If Gronholm wins on Sunday, Loeb only has to bring his C4 WRC home in fifth, as while they would both end the season with 114 points, Seb would take the title on the count-back with eight wins to Marcus’ six.
"Unless the event produces a big surprise, we probably won't be adding our names to the list of past winners of this event this time round,” Loeb admitted. “I don't mind, however, if that means securing a fourth world title.
“We lead by six points, so we won't need to win at all costs. Should Marcus win, we will have to finish in at least fifth place to make sure of the title. That would put us equal on points but we have more wins to our name.
“We will consequently need to find a pace that permits us to finish inside the top-five. I don't enjoy driving to finish but, given the importance of the stakes, it's only logical," he added.
Loeb has done the Rally GB six times to date and it is one of the few events he has never won - his best results, two second places in 2003 and 2004 and a third place finish in 2005. He missed the event last year after his mountain bike accident, which forced him to sit out the final four events.
“The Wales Rally GB has never gone well for us in a WRC car,” he added. “We didn't even start the 2006 event!
“However, the stages haven't changed much in recent years so I hope our absence last year won't be too much of a handicap. The way the Rally of New Zealand went suggests it shouldn't be."
Loeb’s team-mate,
Daniel Sordo meanwhile has only contested Rally GB once before and as such he has modest objectives for the Welsh event.
"Above all, I will be looking to finish,” he stated. “It will be important for my experience to contest all the stages.
“I have only done Rally GB once before and that was last year with Marc [Marti – my co-driver] driving the Xsara WRC. Given that it was our first attempt, our times weren't too bad and I was pleased about that. I enjoyed the stages which I found to be rough and technical, with some very fast portions which put the accent on driving ability.
“I didn't like the fog, though. When you lack benchmarks on a terrain like that, it's difficult to be quick.
“We won't be under any particular pressure however, so I will also try to enjoy myself with the C4 WRC and post some decent times compared with our rivals who have more experience of the event."
BP Ford WRT:
[Marcus Gronholm, car #3 and
Mikko Hirvonen, car #4]
Gronholm draws strength from Raikkonen comeback.
